Blazes in Butte and Nevada counties continued to be battled by firefighters on the 31st August, but smoke from wildfires in southern Oregon and Northern California has made its way into the Sacramento area.
30% of the Ponderosa Fire in Butte County has been reported as contained, though it managed to burn across 3570 acres on the 31st August according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
As for the Pleasant Fire, which has been burning off Highway 49 and Pleasant Valley, which is south of North San Juan, this was being reported as 40% contained, with 280 acres burned.
The Ponderosa Fire itself broke out in the afternoon on the 29th August at Ponderosa Way and Lumpkin Road, located east of Lake Oroville. By the 31st August, 20 homes had been burned as well as seven outbuildings.
The firefighters on the 31st didn’t see the explosive growth in the fire which had taken place on the first day, however they continued to fight the spot fires on the southern edge.
The 31st August also brought excessive heat and red flag warnings, and higher than usual night-time temperatures and low humidity meant that firefighters couldn’t see the typical overnight decline in fire activity – these conditions are expected to last through to the 1st September at the very least.
